So what does it take to make your place look great? Not big bucks or a lot of time. ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, shares 10 projects that can be done in a weekend for $150 or less: Punch up the numbers Cost $1 to $40 House numbers are practical–and they can also enhance the style of your home. Play with scale by going with oversize numbers, and choose a style that complements your home’s architecture– whether it’s a curvy mission style for bungalows or prairie-style homes, or sleek and modern for a contemporary house, script for a formal colonial, or casual, colorful ceramics for a French country or Mediterranean look. Put out a welcome mat Cost About $30 The quickest and easiest front porch update is a

new welcome mat. It’s an accessory that you can change with the seasons or use to showcase your individuality: Go colorful and kid-friendly with bright strips, classic and sophisticated with a custom monogram, or way out and wacky with a funny quote. Clean up the landscaping Cost About $150 A few landscaping tweaks don’t have to cost a lot. You can bring a patchy yard back to life by seeding bald spots and pruning overgrown foundation plantings. If you decide to add shrubs around the house, choose varieties that won’t grow bigger than 3 or 4 feet, and plant taller bushes and trees at the edge of the house to frame it.

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10 Cheap Ways to Boost Your Curb Appeal